Angel Hill

This morning at church there was a baby dedication, it was all in Spanish so I couldn't understand a thing! But the reality of it all hit me very clear! Here was a father and mother, saying, God you have given us this child, now we give this child to you! They were promising to raise this child up in the nurturing and admonishing of the Lord. This is our child, but God you will have the final rule and authority in her life!

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

I began to think back on my own dedication, of course I don't remember it! But it was the same commitment that my parents had made, and have continued to make through out my life! I thought back on many situations in my life, times that my parents let me do things because they were trusting me to God, and other times that they said, no, because they knew better than I! I thought of how my parents let me grow, mature, become independent, encouraged me in the Lord. Set my path toward Him! I began to think back on all the times people had asked me, What do your parents think about you going? Are your parents ok with it? Well honestly, I never asked them, but I knew that they would want me to go if it was God's will! I knew they stood behind me and encouraged me! I'm so thankful that my parents dedicated me to God many years ago, so when it came to this trip, my parents, didn't have to hold on, but could let me go knowing that I was still in the hands of the God who had always been with me! I'm so thankful for my parents, and their commitment to God in their own lives, and the example they have for me to follow!

At lunch time today I was so proud, I almost picked off the menu on my own, then was going to order on my own, but of course they didn't have this and were out of that, so Natasha had to translate for me anyway! But at least I tried! :)

There was beautiful paintings on the covered market! We had our first market experience today! So we are working on the bargaining skills! Thankfully I was with two very patient people who translated for me!

A whole group of us, went out hiking around the city looking at churches, then we went to the top of the angel hill, you can see it in the far left of this picture!

The view from the top! I never get sick of looking at it all!

The clouds and mist are just amazing!

We climbed right up to the top of the angel!

Natasha!! I love this girl!

This is Sebastian, he was our tour guide, bargainer and he answered all our questions about Ecuador! He is from the church here. We told him after we took the picture that he would end up on the blog.... :) He was in New York for quite a few years so he speaks good English! Which reminds me that I met a couple at church today from Wisconsin and it was so amazing to talk to someone that actually knew towns, people, churches,  places, and well WISCONSIN!! 

You can't really tell but this was the railing around the walk way and it was bent out and around along the bottom, so I was actually sitting on the railing, which hung out over the side walk!

This is the angel, it looks prettier from far away!